The second-highest price ever posted at the NZB Ready to Run Sale underscored two very successful days trade at Karaka, with the two-day Sale concluding with a new record turnover, average and median.
Record Results at Karaka’s 2012 Ready to Run

The second-highest price ever posted at the NZB Ready to Run Sale underscored two very successful days trade at Karaka, with the two-day Sale concluding with a new record turnover, average and median.

With the second day of selling continuing even stronger than Day 1, after two days 245 of the 407 entries have sold for $17,852,000, over $1.5m and 10% ahead of the previous record turnover of $16,216,500 posted at last year’s Sale (with 354 catalogued and 228 sold).

But with enormous depth to the buying bench, the new record median was a highlight for vendors, at $48,000 it is nearly 7% higher than the previous record of $45,000 set last year.

In addition, at $72,865 the final sale average has exceeded last year’s record of $71,125 by 2%, combined with a very pleasing clearance rate for this Sale of over 72%.

Demonstrating the strength at the top of the market, this year 21 horses were secured for $200,000 or more, versus 18 at last year’s record sale.

The highlight of the Sale came with Sydney-based bloodstock agent James Harron securing the Fastnet Rock colt from the winning Stravinsky mare Oraia at Lot 242 for $480,000, the second highest price recorded at a New Zealand Ready to Run Sale (with the highest $500,000 in 2007).
Lot 242
Sale-topper Lot 242 was purchased for $480,000.
Pictured with Maryanne Simon and Tim Welch.

Bought for Edmund & Belinda Bateman, the owners of the Group 1 winning Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock), Harron confirms that the colt will be trained by Gai Waterhouse in Sydney.

“I came here looking for a couple of horses and missed out on a few on day one, but I had my sights firmly set on this Fastnet Rock colt as I thought he was the pick of the Sale,” commented Harron.

“It has been a very successful bloodline cross, which I liked, but primarily he is a fantastic type and has a pedigree littered with speed.

“NZB does a great job in getting a lovely bunch of horses here every year and the results that have been coming out of this Sale give you confidence to be stronger in the ring.”

The second highest price of the Sale also came today, with the Encosta de Lago colt at Lot 233 purchased by John Foote Bloodstock for Hong Kong based trainer David Hall, who was also present ringside this week.

A regular buyer in New Zealand, Hall has become a keen supporter of the Ready to Run Sale.

“This Sale is very popular in Hong Kong due the results it has been getting up there,” he commented. “Asian owners like to buy these horses that are more advanced than yearlings as it fast tracks the whole process to get them up to Hong Kong sooner.”

Hong Kong buyers have been a notable presence at Karaka, securing 8 of the top 20 lots of the Sale and trainers Michael Chang, Ricky Yiu and Dennis Yip featuring in the top 10 buyers.

But the leading buyer for the Sale has been Singapore-based trainer Michael Freedman, buying in conjunction with local bloodstock agent Michael Wallace, together purchasing 10 horses for $1,240,000. The pair’s top price was $175,000 paid yesterday for Lot 171 (Darci Brahma x Lacango).

“We have had a lot of success through this Sale,” commented Michael Wallace. “We bought three last year and they have all won in Singapore already.

“The draft this year was very strong and that corresponded into a strong Sale. We found it pretty competitive in the ring but there was still good value to be had.

“There was a big international buying bench this year so the Sale is certainly growing given the opportunity it represents.”

The broad international buying bench was evident throughout the past two days, with Australia, Malaysia, South Africa, Macau, Korea, Indonesia and New Caledonia all represented on the buyers sheets alongside Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand.

Heading the charge last year by spend, Australian buyers have again been the most dominant presence spending in excess of $5.3 million on more than 60 horses, with the likes of Australian Bloodstock, Justin Bahen, John O’Shea, Jason Warren, Cameron Cooke, Connect Racing, Hyland/Hughes, Simon Zahra, Patrick Payne, Hope Racing, Tim Stakemire and John Chalmers all making purchases for Australia.

With 115 individual sires represented in this year’s catalogue, heading the sires list by average (with three or more sold) has been Fastnet Rock with five of his seven sale entries averaging $268,000.

The leading vendor for the sixth year in a row has been Mark & Shelley Treweek’s Lyndhurst Farm, with 19 horses sold for $3,309,000, at an average just over $174,000. Their top price came today at Lot 251, with the Exceed and Excel colt from Sadler’s Wells mare Pas de Deux fetching $350,000 to the bid of Hong Kong trainer Me Tsui.

Mark Treweek was delighted with the result of the past two days.

“It was a huge result, we are thrilled,” said Mark Treweek. “We had a lovely draft and it paid off. We broke the $3 million for the first time last year and we were hoping we could do it again this year and we have.

“The Sale was very much in last year’s mould. The first day was a bit tough as some buyers sat on their hands to see how the market would go but today was definitely a lot stronger and buyers were very active, especially on the right horses. I think overall it was a fantastic Sale.”

Summing up proceedings, NZB Co-Managing Director Petrea Vela was very pleased with this year’s Sale.

“Day 2 always seems to step up another gear and we saw that again today. The clearance, average and median all increased on yesterday, and to have posted new records certainly exceeds our expectations.

“The buying bench was no doubt the highlight – the consistent success from the Sale throughout Australasia and Asia is proving such a good advertisement for the merits of buying here and we’re thrilled with the support the Sale has received. We hope that buyers are very well-rewarded by their purchases.

“Everything to do with this year’s Sale has gone as well as we could have hoped. The Breeze Ups went as smoothly and professionally as ever before, and there has been a broad selection of well-selected and well-prepared young horses for buyers to choose from which is a credit to vendors.

“These results should give pinhookers a lot of confidence heading into the Yearling Sales. This has developed into a very robust market for New Zealand and as the quality of the offering continues to improve it can only be positive for the future of the Sale.”